Artesia News

City Manager Gives ‘State of the City Address’ at Mayor’s Breakfast


June 10, 7:15 a.m. - Outdoors, during a cool and gloomy morning, Artesia’s mayor and city manager helped warm things up with an optimistic look at the future of the little city.

Mayor Larry R. Nelson and city manager Maria Dadian spoke highly of the city’s accomplishments and of things to come as about 50 people enjoyed a breakfast made by the Old Timers Foundation. In the audience was District Supervisor Don Knabe and his representative, city council members from Bellflower and Lakewood, members of ABC Unified’s school board, representatives of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Senator Alan Lowenthal, former mayors of Artesia, and Artesia Princess Megan VerSteeg.

A few weather-related conditions and technical errors didn’t stop Mayor Nelson from making light of the situation, coming down from the stage to speak to the audience instead of speaking into the microphone. “That’s one of the good things about Artesia,” said Nelson, “we’ll make any situation work for us.”

The mayor’s comment was further emphasized by the city manager as she spoke of the success of the city’s projects despite having a tight budget. “Many of you,” said Dadian, referring to members of the audience, “come from organizations that deal with many millions of dollars. However, in Artesia there’s always a threat of how we will survive … and the question, ‘Are we going to be a viable city?”

Dadian’s presentation included a comparison of the year 2000 and the present. In 2000, the city had a reserve of approximately $2.5 million and in 2005, $3.4 million.

“Over the last five years … we’ve counted every nickel and dime coming in and out of the city … expecting (and preparing) for the worst.”

A factor that may at first hinder the city’s budget, but is expected to help increase it, is the fact that Artesia does not use any property tax given to it. “This is a no property tax city”, said Dadian, “that tax goes to the county.”

“We survive on sales tax, and since the year 2000, I have watched the city’s revenue increase from $5.3 million to $6.5 million,” said Dadian.

Dadian recalled some recent projects that have been finished, mentioning the post office’s attempt to ease the flow of traffic, Artesia and Pioneer Blvd.’s improvements, and the EastWest Ice Palace (a.k.a. The Kwan Ice Palace).

Referring to the post office, Dadian said, “It doesn’t have to be Christmas to see the amount of traffic going through that post office. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez had a lot to do with it, and we owe her quite a bit.”

As for the Ice Palace, Dadian said that it “compliments Artesia” and that it’s the “star building.”

“We’ve been waiting so anxiously for this, and the Ice Palace has put Artesia on the map as far as sports goes,” said Dadian.

Dadian also referred to a number of future projects, including the Duarte Project, Little India Village Project, and the Downtown Revitalization Plan for Pioneer Blvd.

With the exception of the Downtown Revitalization Plan, “all projects are done through private money … the city only provided insight on enhancing plans.”

More upcoming projects include new homes, the Senior Housing Project (which city hall is generating a list for), monuments, the Westar building, the Patel building, future improvements for Artesia Park, and a parking structure for the downtown shopping district.

Another big project in the works is the IDC/VistaCor Development. “We want to create a diversion for those shoppers commuting from Cerritos Town Centre to Cerritos Mall,” the city manager retorted.

The city manager also addressed the problems of aging residential streets, saying that perhaps over the next 12 months they will be repaired with a new technique called “cape sealing”, and the procedure has already been used on six residential streets with excellent results.

After Dadian’s presentation, Mayor Nelson again got on the microphone and acknowledged the efforts of the city manager. “We appointed the best city manager for the job,” said Nelson. The mayor added, “In the past, Artesia’s city council didn’t really have a vision for the city, Maria Dadian gave us that vision.”

Mayor Nelson thanks the city manager for providing council with a vision.
   Those attending were served pancakes, sausages, ham, bacon, and hash browns, courtesy of the Old Timers’ Foundation.
After the breakfast, Maddy Galindo discusses an event she’s organizing, the Artesia team for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The mayor comes down from the stage after experiencing technical difficulties, saying, “This is what I do best.”
 The audience watches as the city manager gives her speech.

Lead Photo:

City manager Maria Dadian gives Artesia’s ‘State of the City Address’

 

 


 

 

 

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